No fewer than 101 suspected Boko Haram terrorists have been allegedly released from the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, Lagos State.
According to an online platform, Foundation for Investigative Journalism, wardens at the facility let them out as part of a swap deal for the release of travellers who were abducted in Kaduna on March 28.
The source said the freed suspects had been awaiting trial since 2009, adding that they knew about the Kuje jailbreak before it occurred.
“They secretly released 101 Boko Haram suspects around 6 am. The negotiations had been ongoing for some months. We used to pray together. During prayers, they spoke Hausa, and they told me they would be going home by October.
“Early yesterday (Saturday) morning, they owned the cell door and called them out. They had returned their properties already. I used to speak with one Adamu in G3 cell. He is no longer here. He is tall and slim and has a long face.
They told me that their release was based on negotiations and the pressure their sponsors gave Buhari. They felt if they didn’t get released before a new president, who might not be their tribesman, took the seat, they might not be granted amnesty,” the source said.
An official in the prison, however, denied the claim.
The source said there were ongoing efforts to release the suspects based on their illegal detention without trial.
“There is an ongoing court process for the inmates to be released because they have been held since 2009 without trial. That process has not been completed to the best of my knowledge for the inmates to be released,” he added.
Efforts to speak to the Nigerian Correctional Service on the matter proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party isn’t abating as five governors of the PDP boycotted the the campaign launch of their Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar held in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom state capital.
The five governors are: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Also, the national vice-chairman of the party in the South-South, Dan Orbih was conspicuously absent during the event that attracted all stakeholders of the party.
The Governors are demanding the removal of the party’s national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu in the spirit of equity, fairness and inclusion. Ayu has insisted that he’s going nowhere.
Recall that the Governors and their loyalists recently pulled out of the presidential campaign team of the party.
The National Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, shares with GODFREY GEORGE his thoughts on Nigeria at 62, insecurity in the country and other national issues
Nigeria clocked 62 on Saturday, (October 1, 2022). From your assessment, is the country where it ought to be?
Of course not! At 62, this country is supposed to be run as one of the best countries in the world. We lost our way somewhere around the 1960s and now. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of opportunities and made wrong turns. As a result, the country has faced incredible damage that a lot of other countries may not have survived. We should be grateful to God that we have survived it, and we should be grateful to those patriots, who still believe in the need to work for Nigeria’s survival as one nation and its unity and economy. We must find a way to create hope among our young people. This is the most important task for any leader who wants to take over from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). We must have a leader who can inspire hope and confidence and a nation to work harder. We need one who can exploit our economic resources and build our values of honesty, hard work and tolerance. These things are very critical. Nigeria has not had it too badly either; we have survived for over 100 years since amalgamation in 1914. So, we have done well, but we can do a lot better.
What do you think may be responsible for the underdevelopment in the country?
I think the prolonged stay of the military stunted the growth and development of the democratic process that should have allowed the full expression of Nigeria’s potential. The military not just stunted the economy, it also allowed corruption, which has now come to be the centrepiece of all that we do. Power has become something that one buys, grabs or steals. These things have combined to create poor leadership in the nation for the citizens of the state, frustration and anger among the young, and underdevelopment across communities. We haven’t had good leadership since the late 1960s till date. It has been increasingly dwindling, and we are now at the point where we literally just yield power to persons who are completely ill-equipped to govern. All they have to do is buy power irrespective of their credentials.
Citizens have lost control. Nigeria runs a democratic process where leaders are impoverishing the citizens. The class distinction between the ruling class and the poor is wide. The ruling class is not just Hausa, Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba; it is everyone. They think alike and act alike. When they want power, they use us and dump us when they are done. That ruling class is exploiting our weakness and is becoming stronger. The Nigerian citizens have become weaker and weaker in terms of their ability to exercise some measure of influence or control over the democratic process. This is very sad. Unfortunately, that is the reality.
What do you think the country should do differently now?
In 2023, I hope that we will elect a leader who genuinely has the capacity to turn this country’s fortunes around, not just because he said so. We need someone who has the understanding and personal quality and mental and physical capacity, integrity to inspire Nigerians to work harder and follow. Nigerians need to see all these qualities in him so they can trust him. We need to produce good leaders who will serve as examples and produce good citizens. This country should produce good citizens. We are devoutly religious people. Ninety-five per cent of Nigerians believe in God and they know what is right and wrong in doing things. They know that cheating, stealing and embezzlement are bad, yet they go ahead and do them. These ills have become a part of us. Something has gone wrong.
We need to rediscover our values as a nation, but we can only do that when we have the right set of leaders in that direction. We need leaders who can rebuild institutions and reunite this country. We really need to reunite. There is no reason why the Hausa/Fulani man should be fighting the Igbo or Yoruba man. We have nothing to fight over. God has given us everything to live on. We don’t need to fight for anything. No part of Nigeria is so poor that it has to fight another part of the country for food or resources. If we don’t get it right in 2023, I am afraid that we cannot just hope that in another four or eight years we will be lucky enough to survive this decline in every index of national life. I don’t think we can survive another decade together if we continue to go the same way we have been under Buhari.
Speaking of the general elections and looking at the political atmosphere, what are your hopes for 2023?
I hope they (candidates) all have a level playing field. I hope they have the freedom and security to go everywhere in this country and show Nigerians why they are asking us to trust them. I hope Nigerians do not just get the chance to rally around, but also to interrogate these people. I hope we will be able to choose the best, not because they share our faith or because they share our region. I hope that we will learn our lessons when we look at the last 10 or 12 years. We don’t need sentiments about religion and ethnicity.
The NEF has collaborated with other pressure groups to have interactive sessions with all the presidential front liners to evaluate them and acquaint them with the issues that are central to the North. We will ask them for commitments and to undertake that they will lead the country with honesty and goodness, and that they will keep their eyes on the economy and the fight against corruption and insecurity. That is what we intend to do. It is going to be a very serious conference, and we have extended invitations to all the aspirants in that regard. They will come in person with their running mates. We will spend a few hours with them. We have incredible and respected Nigerians who will come there and interrogate them. Hopefully, something positive will come out of this. We will have a very close interaction with these candidates; so, it gives us a good understanding of who they are and what they will do with the power if voted in. They must be able to give us the future. What do they want to do with this country? We don’t want someone who is ill-prepared to be in the Presidential Villa as we did in 2015. Nigerians have a lot of challenges and we need a man who can solve them.
Do you think age should be a factor when considering who to vote for?
Age is a double-edged sword. There is an advantage in wisdom and also an advantage in usefulness and youthfulness. We are not putting a premium on health alone. We are putting a premium on other things. One can be young and do nothing, and one can be old and still not understand what change is. Take a look at the President. He has never changed anything in this country from 2015 to date. So, we don’t want to put too much emphasis on age, although it has its values.
Insecurity used to be a regional thing six or seven years ago. Now, it has become widespread and has become a major part of the nation’s recent history. Where exactly did Nigeria get it?
Every problem has roots; they don’t just spring up overnight. When they do, we find out that there are remote causes. We need to genuinely ask ourselves questions about why we have widespread violence all over the country. We need a clear and informed understanding of why violence is so rampant in the country. When we understand this problem, a significant part of the problem has been solved. We have had weak governments. From (former President Goodluck) Jonathan to Buhari, they have failed to understand the social context in which some of these problems are generated and to explore alternative ways to deal with them. They just throw the military and the police at every problem. That is why they have been missing the point. What is the dimension of this widespread insecurity? What gave rise to it? Why has it continued to be a problem? The whole country is programmed to fight every threat with the military.
We need an enlightened leadership that will visit the South-South and South-East with an open mind, discuss with the Niger Delta agitators, the Indigenous People of Biafra and everyone who feels aggrieved the same way they will also discuss with the bandits, Boko Haram and kidnappers. We have to find out if there are ways we can resolve this problem by talking with them. This country has to reduce its exposure to armed criminality. We cannot continue to be this exposed. It is destroying our economy and our coexistence, and it is giving more and more room to criminals. The states are shrinking and giving criminals more space and power. We cannot continue like this. What we are looking for is an enlightened leader who will be bold enough to ask questions and seek answers. If it is economic deprivation, injustice or something the states need to do, they should do so. One is likely to find different reasons for why this regional insecurity abounds. We must do things differently from what this administration has done. We cannot just continue to throw the military that is stretched at every problem.
Look at the South-East, the IPOB has virtually taken over the five eastern states. How is the President going to reclaim these states and make them believe they are part of this country and stop this business of stay-at-home on Mondays? How do you go to places like Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger states and face the bandits and remove from them the huge number of communities they are currently controlling. So, security and defence must be prioritised by the next administration. There must be a lot of good thinking and the willingness to explore options that have not been expressed before.
The dust raised by the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) isn’t settling down anytime soon as members of the party and other leaders from the Northern region under the platform of ‘Northern Leaders Conservative Meeting,’ has said voting such presidential ticket will have a dangerous consequences.
The APC Northern Christian leaders after their meeting with other Muslim brothers and sisters held on 8th October at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, said they will work together to foster peace in the country and will join a pan Nigeria platform.
The meeting also resolved to set up a committee that will fashion out the best way to achieve the resolutions of their meeting.
The APC Northern Christian leaders have in line with their communique issued on July 29, 2022, today met with some Muslim brothers and sisters across the 19 northern states and the FCT and resolved as follows:
1. That we have agreed to work together with a view to fostering unity, peace and national cohesion.
2. To work together and jointly adopt a pan-Nigerian political platform that will engender unity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging among the Nigerian citizenry.
3. Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural configuration of Nigeria we believe that a same faith ticket and voting along religious lines may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative consequences among our disparate peoples in ways that will hamper nation building. Consequently, we have agreed to channel our energies on matter that unite us more as a people instead of encouraging attacks on sensitive issues bothering on religion in the name of politics.
4. In view of the above, we have agreed to set up a committee with the mandate to fashion out strategies for advancing the objectives set forth in this resolution.
Gov Charles Soludo of Anambra state has called for a dialogue between Nigeria and Cameroon to find lasting solution to the perennial flooding across the country.
According to Soludo the annual flood disaster is occasioned by the damns in Cameroon that leads to the flooding in the riverine areas of Nigeria.
The governor who made this appeal during the inspection of the flood and the Internally displaced persons camps in the affected areas noted that with such dialogue the two countries can take a stop gap measure towards arresting the situation.
According to the Governor, the flood water emanates and surges from Cameroon, asking the federal government to dialogue with the government of Cameroon, to proffer lasting solution to the flood devastation which has unfortunately become an annual occurrence.
He however suggested that solutions like construction of dams or diversionary channels could help solve the problem.
Speaking on the fate of the flood victims he said;
“Anambra State Government is doing everything possible to alleviate the sufferings of the people. They need support now and afterwards because their houses, properties and farmlands are submerged under water. I’m worried that they will have to start life afresh.”
“We are receiving people from Delta State to join IDP Camp in Onitsha North. Today alone, over 400 displaced persons have reported here,” Soludo noted.
He empathized with them, expressing optimism that in the coming weeks, the flood will recede and they will find their way back to their respective homes.
“As Ndi Anambra, we are particularly concerned and disturbed about this flood crises. We’ve observed all you need to make your stay here minimally comfortable. As a government, we will try our best to provide power supply, foams, soap, mosquito nets, medical care and others”.
“it’s saddening that every year, people run away from their abode because of flooding. I have visited the clinic, cooking space and seen the damaged zincs / roofs that cause leakages when there is downpour. We shall support you,” Soludo assured.
He noted that the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka represents Anambra East while the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne represents Anambra West, and expressed displeasure over the inability of the affected children to attend school and play football for leisure.
“This crises affects all of us Soludo bemoaned”.
“Government will extend support and hopefully, within two weeks, the flood will subside. When you return to your homes, government will still come back to visit and assess your losses”.
“We are willing to help restore all you have lost”, Soludo stressed.
The Governor was later joined by the lawmaker representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, Chief Chinedu Obidigwe who donated footballs to children to play with.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Friday said the country will soon hear from President Muhammadu Buhari on the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The Speaker, along with other lawmakers, in recent weeks have acted as negotiators between the Federal Government and the striking workers.
Gbajabiamila said discussions with the President were fruitful and expects Buhari to make known his decisions to the public after reviewing the lawmakers’ recommendations.
During his budget presentation speech at the National Assembly earlier on Friday, President Buhari had said a total of N470 billion has been earmarked in the 2023 budget for revitalisation and salary enhancements in the nation’s tertiary institutions, addressing some of ASUU’s main demands.
But the President noted that government alone cannot continue to provide the resources required for funding tertiary education.
“In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level,” the President said. “It is imperative therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education.”
He added that his administration was committed to implementing agreements reached with staff unions within the available resources.
“This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement,” he said. “Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector.
“Government is equally committed to improving the quality of education at other levels.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has said it would review the judgement of the Appeal Court that ordered the union to end its strike, to determine its next line of action.
The appeal court on Friday ordered the union to return to work as earlier ordered by the National Industrial Court with immediate effect.
In reaction to the fresh court judgement, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, told Daily Post that the union is yet to officially receive the Appeal Court ruling.
He said the union would after receiving the judgement, go through the document with its lawyers and decide on its next line of action.
He said, “We have not received the ruling, when we get it, we will review it with our lawyer and then we can take the next step”.
The Federal Government, following its inability to reach a truce with the university lecturer, dragged ASUU to the National Industrial Court on September 11.
Miffed by the ruling, the union headed to the appellate court to appeal the ruling.
Don’t be deceived into fighting someone’s personal battles disguised as an ethnic battle.
They didn’t consider you a good enough Omo Yoruba, when they were doling juicy positions to their family and friends.
We are only good enough to help them fight their personal battles.
Being an Omoluabi doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use our heads (brains).
Before you vote in the next general election, consider these:
*Remi Tinubu (Wife):* Bola Tinubu made her a 3-term senator who represented Lagos Central at the Nigerian Senate.
*Mrs Lola Akande (Sister-in-law):* She is Tinubu’s wife’s sister. He made her the incumbent Lagos State Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives. She is also a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
*Hon. Sunkanmi (Nephew):* the member of Lagos state House of Assembly representing Ikeja. He actually succeeded Mrs. Lola Akande.
*Sade Tinubu-Ojo (Daughter):* She is the Iyaloja General of Lagos. Note, the Iya Oloja controls all monies and levies generated in all Lagos markets. Sade replaced Tinubu’s adopted mother as the Iyaloja. Technically, he made the position an hereditary/family position.
*Oyetunde Ojo (Son-in-law):* Tinubu made him a member of the House of Representatives member in Ekiti State. He was sacked for using fake academic credentials in contesting. Ojo, an ex-parking attendant in London, is the husband of the Iya loja General of Lagos.
*Seyi Tinubu (Son):* He was appointed as the emergency financial consultant to all parastatals and local governments in Lagos State. Seyi is also in charge of the Lagos advertising account. This makes him in charge of the billions of naira generated from all billboard adverts in Lagos. His convoy is said to rival that of a state Governor,
*Fola Tinubu (nephew):* He is the Managing Director of Primero Transport Services Limited, a company owned by Tinubu. The company has the sole rights to operate BRT service in Lagos.
*Akeem Muri-Okunola (His friend’s son/and his former PA):* He was recently was imposed as the Head of Lagos Civil Service against all civil service rules.
*Akinola Benson (Personal Assistant):* He is the incumbent Commissioner for Establishment.
*Jide Idris (His Cousin):* The three-term Commissioner and the incumbent Commissioner for Health is Tinubu’s Cousin.
*Bolaji Ariyo (former ADC):* The incumbent chairman of the Oshodi Local Government was also Tinubu’s ADC.
*Gbolahan Lawal (ADC):* The incumbent Commissioner for Housing (a two-term Commissioner) was ADC to Bola Tinubu.
*Dr. Sikiru Tinubu (Cousin):* He is the MD of the Critical Care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja. The facility was built and equipped with state funds. It is now owned personally by Bola Tinubu. Dr. Sikiru Tinubu runs the outfit. It is run as a private unit and the proceeds are pocketed by the duo. The unit charges its users exorbitantly and most Lagosians can hardly afford to pay its high charges. Most of the revenue is derived from fees paid by the State Government for patients referred there by its General Hospitals.
*Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola (Cousin):* Bola Tinubu installed his cousin Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola as the governor of Osun State.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has pledged his commitment to ensuring the passage of the National Water Resources bill into law.
Mr Adamu, who made the pledge when he was featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)flagship interview programme in Abuja, said it was for the overall benefit of all Nigerians.
He said, ”it was saddening that antagonists of the bill went hysterical, giving it different colourations.
”An outright call for the bill to be thrown out is against water resources development.”
Mr Adamu said the ministry had debunked arguments against the bill through continuous media rounds, saying ”the next step is to await another public hearing if need be.
“Some of the people that are vehemently opposing this bill are the ones that stand to benefit and the ones that are most protected.
“For instance, in the riverine areas, it is not good if you don’t have a law that protects the interstate waters.
”This is because 80 per cent of the freshwater of this country flow from north to south into the Atlantic, if you don’t have this kind of protection for the downstream end, what will happen?
If states like Kebbi, where River Niger comes in, or Adamawa where River Benue flows in decide that they want to control the water at that point, what will happen to the downstream communities?
That is why, since independence, our constitution has made it that the water that flows across interstate or inter-regional boundaries as it were at that time, the responsibility for that should be vested in the federal government.”
Mr Adamu said that there was nothing unusual about this as this was what was obtained everywhere in the world.
The minister said that Nigeria entered into a treaty with eight other countries in the early sixties to form the Niger-Basin Authority.
According to him, such a partnership has seen the survival of the Kainji and Jebba dams.
He, therefore, urged those with contrary opinions to present them at the proposed public hearing, saying, “they are determined to rubbish the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
The minister said he would not allow the actions of critics to mock efforts to reposition the water resources sector and that the bill was the major instrument to make it happen.
“You know, this bill went through so many things, including a review by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is one of the leading legal experts on environmental law and his opinion is that there is nothing wrong with this bill.
“So, why tie it to politics when it should be tied to development?
I think we should get out of that cocoon; for those that are opposed to the bill, please have an open mind about it and look at it.
“We will continue to pursue this bill because it is our responsibility as government,” Mr Adamu said.
He said that the ministry and many experts were involved in the formulation of this bill for the past close to 20 years.
“So, to the last day that I am minister in this ministry, I will continue to pursue this bill to its logical conclusion,” the minister vowed.
Most of us that supported Prof Chukwuma Soludo in the last Anambra Gubernatorial election are beginning to re-appraise our decision . Something has gone wrong ? This is not a Great Thinker I have followed for the past decades . This is not the Professor of economics I have always admired .
I want to believe that the security situation in the State has overwhelmed him . I want to believe that he did not see the ASWAMA new rates before it was made public. I also want to believe that the rascality in Anambra Transport Agency does not secure the endorsement of Mr Governor. Those yellow uniformed guys are becoming monsters in the manner they operate.My experience in Revenue office few days ago indicated that there is a major difference between policy formulation and policy implementation.
I have always boasted that an economist would always deplore public policies to encourage productivity . As an economist , Prof Soludo is my Mentor . He is a great Thinker! I have gone through many of his works on public policies and how to reform the Nigeria State. But ,there is a huge gap between conference hall and field of work. For instance ,there is a rule to confiscate any vehicle that parked wrongly on the highway! On the field , the ASTMA Officials are poorly paid and are poorly motivated .They did not receive the kind of training like CBN Staff that would boast their confident to take best decisions.How do you determine that a car is wrongly parked ? Has government provided public parking space ? Has Government educated the public enough? Is there an office checkmating the excesses of these poorly remunerated Government officials ? Is there a dedicated call lines where those who are wrongly fined should report their cases! I saw a man whose car was towed because the car developed fault on the road ; the man was asked to pay N50,000 for road obstruction! How is it the man fault?
Looking at the new rates released by ASWAMA office few days ago ,I can only conclude that Government is insensitive to the suffering of the households and Business units . It should be noted that most Businesses are merely operating at break -even points or perhaps merely floating , waiting for the grace of God to navigate to comfort zone.
See the rates below:
1. Urban – Awka South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Aguata, Nnewi North, Idemili North and Ogbaru.
✓Duplex – N12,000
✓Detached Bungalows – N6,000
✓2/3 Bedroom Flat – N3,600
✓1 BedRoom Apartment – N2,400
✓1 Room – N1,200
✓Restaurant/ Beer Parlour –
*Large – N60,000*
*Small – N24,000*
✓Hotel With 200 Rooms And Above: N480k
✓Hotel With 100-199 Rooms: N300,000
✓Hotel With 50-99 Rooms: N240,000
✓Hotel With 40-49 Rooms: N180,000
✓Hotel With 30-39 Rooms: N160,000
✓Hotel With 20-29 Rooms: N144,000
✓Hotel With 10-19 Rooms: N120,000
✓Hotel With 1-9 Rooms: N60,000
✓Central Bank- N600,000
✓Comercial Bank – N240,000
✓Micro Fin Bank/Bureau De Change/ Insurance and Others – N60,000
✓Video Rental Shops- N3,600
✓Game Houses (bet 9ja) – N4800
✓Parks, Entertainment, Sports
*Big – N24,000
*Small – N12,000
✓Fast food – N180,000
✓Night Club – N60,000
✓Others – N24,000
Instead of increasing the ASWAMA rate ,I will recommend that Government should consider reducing the old rate by 20% ; that is the way of an economist! An economist considers several variables ,direct and indirect implications of any policy decision before arriving at a conclusion but an accountant considers figures only. ASWAMA should be more interested with optimal service delivery ,even if it means borrowing money ,during the first 3 three months ,to make a statement and register their presence that Solution is here. From historical perspective, tax payers will always resist high tariffs and resistance means high cost to Government as well as corrupt practices.
Good Governance Ministry rejects this mindless increase in ASWAMA rates especially during this period of economic doldrums. Government should show empathy,cut cost of running government,improve government services and create enabling environment to win public confidence . I trust that people will willingly support their Government . After all ,it is the people that hired Mr Governor .
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is an Ambassador of Good Governance Ministry (GGM), working for public interest.
